Extending S.C. 31 to the North Carolina state line came up Thursday as a possible road project the RIDE III committee would like to see funded in a proposed $530 million referendum slated for 2016.

The committee is in a fact-gathering stage, and is hearing reports monthly — ranging from bicycle paths to evacuation route assistance. The committee is charged with coming up with a preliminary list of road projects to be considered in late 2015 by a commission, who will help prioritize the road list and finally present it to the full Horry County Council.

Horry County is toward the end of the RIDE II program, which raised more than $425 million in sales tax throughout seven years for 15 road projects, including the bridge at S.C. 707 and U.S. 17 Bypass, the widening of S.C. 707 and the Aynor Overpass.

Thursday’s discussion of the extension of S.C. 31 included a report from David Schwerd, principal planner for Horry County, who showed the growth planned around the proposed extension of S.C. 31.

“If 31 is even a thought or possibility, the time to procure it would be before they subdivide the lots out,” Schwerd said.